Photos would help visualizing and make comments to your dilemma

I don't know if you want soft classic or more clean-edge modem, but my kitchen-to-be is similar but we have a more aggressive countertop (typhoon green bordeaux). Still you might look at some of what we liked bc it's very neutral.

First looked at Adelia tumbled travertine 4x4s - I was going to run them parallel to the counter and then a border of Sonoma Tantrum glass, then the same 4x4s but on a diagonal. Sounds busier than it really is but some pics below of the travertine and the Tantrum glass (which you could do in a very neural color or something with some interest if you wanted. Or just a pencil of the same stone - or some people do no transitional piece there.)

In the end, we are going with the same layout of 4x4s but it's a straight-edge, slightly darker Carmello travertine and using a pretty glass and pattern 2" border instead of 1x1s.

Anyway, just a thought!

You could also do the same with subway if you prefer a clean look - or I think glazed subway in rich neutrals or subtle colors are beautiful. The latter was my second choice!

Good luck!

P.S. my border is the second one down on the first photo with the darker travertine - interwoven circles to make a pattern in green tea glass. :-) the tantrum board is of 2x2s just so you see the range of colors. Then another board of borders but they come in many more and lots of other styles.

Oh, here's the idea of the pattern of 4x4s but this has a pencil for the transitional border, as opposed to the glass, and it's not travertine.

If you go a clean, glazed subway look, I think these kitchens are gorgeous!